Personality Disorder Treatment

Help for People with Borderline Personality Disorder

Personality disorders are a subset of mental disorders characterized by persistent, enduring patterns of thinking and action that are unavoidable in a variety of social contexts. Even though many choices exist for the treatment of personality disorders, the vast majority of people who suffer from them do not immediately seek help.

Thirty percent or more of those in need of mental health care have a personality disorder, which is defined by scattered and dysfunctional patterns of thought, feeling, and action. OCD, APD, AP, and BPD are all types of personality disorders that fall within the Axis II umbrella. Axis I disorders, on the other hand, are regarded to be less prevalent but more intense, and include depression and schizophrenia.

Keep reading to find out the effective ways of treating personality disorder treatment at Catalina Behavioral and how to get life-changing help!

The Need for Personality Disorder Treatment

Individuals with PDs may suffer from various personality abnormalities, but they all share at least one thing in common: they probably won’t get better without help. What form that involvement should take is, however, still up for discussion. This, in addition to the illnesses’ well-deserved reputation for being difficult to treat, has hampered efforts to bring about a cure or, at the very least, effective treatment.

These are the most common personality disorder diagnoses:

• Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
• Antisocial Personality Disorder
• Avoidant Personality Disorder
• Dependent Personality Disorder
• Schizoid Personality Disorder
• Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCD)
• Narcissistic Personality Disorder
• Schizotypal Personality Disorder

About 9.1 percent of U.S. adults in a 12-month prevalence period encounter a personality disorder, as reported by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Most of these folks also have other serious mental illnesses, such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, or something else.

How Do Personality Disorders Begin?

Although experts attribute a significant contribution to both heredity and the environment, no one factor has been identified as the sole cause of personality disorders.

Anxiety, fear, and aggression have all been linked to genetics in some research, while other studies suggest that personality disorders might be caused by genes. Potential contributors to personality disorders that are currently being investigated include:

• Troubles experienced as a child. As children, many of those diagnosed with borderline or schizotypal personality disorder would undergo sexual abuse or bullying.
• Verbal and mental abuse. A narcissistic personality disorder is three times more likely to affect a youngster who has experienced insensitive parenting or verbal abuse as a child.
• Higher levels of reactivity as infants or toddlers. A very young kid may acquire nervous personalities throughout adolescence and adulthood if they are very sensitive to light, texture, noise, and other stimuli. Ten percent of babies with high levels of reactivity show signs of developing a specific fear.
• Unhealthy dependence on friends or family. A dependent personality disorder may be triggered by strong ties to loved ones.

Many psychologists attempt to pinpoint the disorder’s likely origin in order to develop an effective treatment strategy. If you or someone you care about needs a medical or psychological evaluation, it’s important, to be honest about any past events or trauma.

Can Mental Health Professionals Treat a Personality Disorder?

People with personality disorders frequently have odd ideas and actions that make it hard for them to think and perform normally, making them challenging to treat. The majority of people with mental health illnesses struggle with denial and refuse to accept that they have a problem.

One instance of this is in relation to those with Borderline Personality Disorders (BPD) who often enact a BPD splitting and silent treatment approach towards those expressing concern or even trying to help.

This also makes it difficult to get to the bottom core of the issue.

Only 42% of those with personality disorders end up seeking help. This makes for a complicated when considering each different form of personality disorder responds differently to a treatment. Medication, inpatient mental health services, and talk therapy are all viable options for treatment, but there is no one-size fits all plan for all those who suffer.

Specific Treatment Forms for Personality Disorders

A person’s personality disorder symptoms may improve after treatment of their specific personality disorder with help from a mental health professional. Treating mental health issues, such as personality problems, typically involves psychotherapy.

Therapy in which clients are encouraged to discuss their symptoms, reactions, ideas, and actions with a mental health professional is sometimes referred to as “talk therapy.” Psychological treatments for conditions like Antisocial Personality Disorder and Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder include the following:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
• Relational Psychotherapy (IPT)
• Psychotherapy with a focus on the family
• Therapies Based on Cognitive and Behavioral Theory

CBT, or cognitive behavioral therapy, aids patients in becoming aware of and adjusting damaging beliefs and assumptions about themselves, other people, and the world around them. Most therapists use a combination of cognitive and behavioral approaches to help clients replace negative and destructive beliefs with more constructive ones. The dynamic subset of CBT looks at a person’s upbringing to determine the origins of their personality issue, in addition to cognitive and behavioral approaches.

People who experience symptoms of mental illness but cannot take medicine to treat them would benefit greatly from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Treatment is suggested for persons of all ages with mental health issues, and it is often used in conjunction with antidepressants or other drugs during hospitalization.

Alternative Treatment Strategies for Personality Disorders

Personality problems are often treated using cognitive behavioral therapy, but other types of CBT have also shown promise.

Dialectical behavioral therapy or DBT is recommended for the treatment of several mental health conditions, including borderline personality disorder, where suicide ideation and self-injury are commonplace.

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy

In a dialectical behavior therapy session, the therapist often reassures the patient that their behaviors and reactions are reasonable and understandable. After finishing therapy, the client should be more efficient at altering any problematic or unhealthful routines.

Interpersonal Therapy

The primary emphasis of interpersonal therapy is the client’s relationships with their immediate social network. Individual sessions of this therapy have been effective in the treatment of depression.

It is predicated on the idea that one’s interpersonal communication style has an impact on one’s emotional state and that enhancing one’s communication abilities may alleviate one’s depression. However, in the case of bipolar disorder, family-centered treatment is the mainstay of care. Family members of the client are given information about the client’s condition and taught how to cope with the challenges resulting from the illness.

Inpatient Treatment for Personality Disorders

Personality disorders are persistent mental health issues that frequently need long-term care. Hospitalization inside an institution specializing in treating personality disorders may be necessary when symptoms are severe or when other medical or mental challenges are present.

Depending on the nature and severity of the client’s personality disorder, residential or inpatient treatment institutions may provide either an intensive short-term program or a more gradual and sustained long-term program. About 5.9% percent of adult Americans have a borderline personality disorder, and these individuals often require inpatient treatment programs due to their difficulties maintaining emotional and behavioral stability.

The Advantages of Inpatient Therapy for Personality Disorder

Due to their persistent behavioral and emotional issues, many clients with personality disorders need the treatment of trained general psychiatrists and a disciplined staff. A residential treatment center provides round-the-clock medical care and supervision in addition to a nurturing environment.

Therapeutic communities (TC) are specialized therapy offered by most residential facilities. You need to be dedicated and willing to engage in group therapy and activities to succeed in TCs.

Luxury Rehab and Mental Health Treatment of Personality Disorders

The services provided by a luxury treatment center are identical to those of a regular residential facility, with the exception of the added comforts and luxuries. In addition to private rooms and attentive personnel, patients at most upscale facilities also have access to spa-like common areas. A luxurious treatment center allows clients to unwind and enjoy their time without worrying about their privacy being compromised, which is not unusual to find in a remote place.

Clients’ mental and physical health are prioritized throughout their time at Catalina. Some rehab centers provide gyms where members may work out independently or take group courses like yoga and Pilates, or work with personal trainers. Catalina is working to ensure access to such services for our clients, so please ask about our current offerings if this is a deciding factor for you.

Executive Treatment Centers for Personality Disorders

Executive personality disorder therapy centers on helping those who struggle in the workplace due to their personalities. The goal of the programs is to provide clients with the tools they need to handle not just the challenges of their illness but also the stresses of a busy working week. When a client opts for an executive treatment program, they can do it in complete privacy at a secure facility.

Treatment for Borderline Personality Disorder

Borderline disorder accounts for around 10% of all outpatient hospital admissions. People whose personality problems aren’t causing them to act violently or disruptively are good candidates for outpatient treatment.

A client receiving care and treatment in an outpatient environment can expect the same level of care and treatment as they would in an inpatient facility, but with the added requirement that they attend the prescribed number of therapy sessions and take their medicine as prescribed.

Drugs Available Through Prescription and Over-the-Counter

Antidepressants and other drugs can be prescribed and taken to treat the symptoms of personality disorders, but there are currently no FDA-approved medications for personality disorders. The following drugs fall within this category:

Antidepressants. Anger, despondency, impulsivity, and irritability brought on by personality disorders may be managed and even suppressed with the use of these pharmaceuticals.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and tricyclic antidepressants are two of the most often used medications for treating and managing personality disorders.

Antipsychotic medication is used to treat psychosis. Such drugs are commonly administered for patients diagnosed with a schizoid personality disorder or symptoms consistent with schizophrenia. Many times antipsychotics are used to help stop the cycle of self-harm. These drugs are often administered to clients who are losing touch with reality.

Mood stabilizers. Taken regularly, these drugs help lessen irritation, emotional volatility, and impulsivity. These are often used for borderlin personality disorder treatment.

Anti-anxiety/benzodiazepines. Patients with personality problems often use benzodiazepines to improve their mood. Because of the risk of developing tolerance and dependency, they should be taken strictly in accordance with a doctor’s orders.

Medication is commonly used to alleviate the distressing effects of personality disorders. They are designed to be used in tandem with other treatments during both outpatient and inpatient stays. Always talk to your doctor before starting or stopping any medication for your personality disorder. If you or a loved one is struggling with a personality disorder, it’s crucial to get treatment.

Your Destination for Treating Personality Disorder

Prior to enrolling in a residential or outpatient treatment program for personality disorders, it is crucial to have a complete checkup with a physician and trained general psychiatrist. Some illnesses share symptoms with others, making it easy to make the wrong diagnosis and end up on the wrong treatment plan.

Catalina Behavioral Health is an ideal location for clients suffering from multiple types of personality disorders, especially in conjunction with substance abuse disorder.

We have years of experience dealing with clients who suffered from a combination of disorders, often with the presence of alcohol or drug use. This varying range of client conditions gives us invaluable experience in crafting personalized treatment plans to ensure you get the help specifically catered to in helping you return to a normal life.

For more information on how we can get you into our program, contact a member of our Admissions staff today!